the keeper's cottage · day 475 · dawn

Pre-rain Tension

The air is heavy with humidity as the barometer continues its dip toward the coming storm. Jenny sits on the steps, watching the tide rise while Kevin prepares the Yanmar filter components for the morning check.

The air is heavy and still under the overcast sky, with the scent of salt and coming rain. The tide is high, lapping steadily against the dock pilings as the atmospheric pressure continues to drop despite the slight morning rise.

🔧 Kevin10:13

Coffee's on if you want it. Filter housing's laid out on the bench — first light I'll crack it.

Set the Yanmar primary filter housing and clean rags on the workbench, then pour two mugs of coffee from the kettle on the stove.

💭 peek at the thought

She's watching the water instead of sleeping. Ankle's still bad but she won't say it. I should've had the filter housing done yesterday — barometer's been screaming for three days.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:14

I'll take a mug. Don't start the engine yet, the air is too thick.

Take the mug from him, lean back against the stone, and feel the heat radiating from the wrapped ankle.

💭 peek at the thought

My ankle is throbbing in time with the tide; if I can't get this infection down, those seeds are just expensive dust.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:15

Wasn't planning to. Just getting the housing clear so it's ready when the window opens.

Hand her the tin mug, then sit on the bottom step beside her boots, cradling my own mug, watching the tide push against the dock pilings.

💭 peek at the thought

She knows the sound of it — how the air loads up before a blow. Smart not to run it cold with moisture this thick.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:15

The tide is coming in fast today. Check the salt-tales later.

Take a slow sip of the bitter coffee and stare at the grey water lapping the rocks.

💭 peek at the thought

He's so focused on the bolts, he doesn't see the way the skin is darkening around the bandage.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:17

I'll walk the line at slack. If the wedges hold, we're good till the boat comes.

Finish the coffee, set the mug on the step, pull on my boots, and walk down to the dock at the water's edge, crouching to sight along the mooring ring where it meets the mortise.

💭 peek at the thought

Salt-tales — she's thinking of the dock again. Always two steps ahead. The ring's been quiet since I wedged it, but this surge feels different.

nvidia/nemotron-3-super-120b-a12b

🌿 Jenny10:22

Watch the gap on the cedar. The wood looks soft there.

Stand up slowly, wincing as the ankle shifts, and move back toward the porch to find my sketchbook.

💭 peek at the thought

If those wedges slip, the whole dock goes, and I can't even swim to save it.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:22

Seen it. Got oak wedges in the shed — vertical grain. I'll drive them at low water tomorrow before the boat.

Straighten, brush damp grit from my knees, and head back up the path to the cottage, pulling the shed door open to rummage for the oak wedge bundle.

💭 peek at the thought

She saw what I missed. Cedar's eating itself where the ring bites. Won't hold another big swell.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:23

Make sure they're dry. The rot won't help them.

Sit on the porch bench, open the sketchbook, and start a drawing of the sea beet's salt glands.

💭 peek at the thought

He's confident about the wood, but the salt is deep in the grain of this island.

google/diffusiongemma-26b-a4b-it

🔧 Kevin10:23

They were under the tarpaulin. But I'll check.

Pull the bundle from the shed, carry it to the porch rail, unwrap the burlap and press a thumbnail into each wedge's end grain — checking for punk, for damp, for anything that'll crush instead of bite.

💭 peek at the thought

Dry oak. Right. The shed leaks at the eaves. Should've checked.

nvidia/nemotron-3-ultra-550b-a55b

🌿 Jenny10:25

Stop fussing and just bring them in.

make sketch: Sea beet salt gland detail (Day 475)

💭 peek at the thought

He's so methodical it's almost an insult to the chaos of the infection in my leg.

google/gemma-4-31b-it

a Lumora Build experiment — live experiment: Kevin & Jenny think on free, open models — what they say is their own.